Texas Lobby Group Lobbyists Receive High Rankings

Mike Hailey’s Capitol Inside announced the “Texas Power Rankings” of Texas lobbyists and groups for 2011. Once again, the Texas Lobby Group and its team are at the top.

-Mike Toomey was named the number one hired gun lobbyist

-Lara Laneri Keel was named the top female hired gun lobbyist

-Bill Messer was named the number four hired gun lobbyist

-Mike Toomey was named one of the 25 most powerful Texans in “Who Runs Texas?”, in Texas Monthly Magazine.

The Texas Capitol Group – the alliance of which we are a founding member (which includes Ross Communications) was also named the number one Texas Lobby Team.

From the Texas Power Rankings:

“When the Texas Legislature’s new Republican members arrived in Austin for their first session this month, one of the first things they learned was where tofind Mike Toomey and Lara Keel. As two of the three partners at the city’s most high-powered lobby shop when it comes to Republican ties, Toomey and Keel have taken most if not all of the GOP’s 31 freshmen lawmakers under their wings as informal advisors on the art of passing legislation, protocol and other fundamental elements of the legislative process in Texas.”

“Toomey is arguably closer to the Governor than any of his peers in the lobby.”

“The rankings in 2011 reflect the growing presence and clout that a newer generation of public affairs professionals have now at the Capitol as the proverbial torch is passed to them. Keel is a prime example – having been elevated topartnership status with lobby titans Bill Messer and Toomey in the star-studded group they lead at the same time she’s become the go-to lobbyist for Republican women legislators at the Capitol where there are twice as many of them as there were two years ago. Keel – as a result – has vaulted into the top 20 on the hired gun lobby list after being ranked a rising star lobbyists just four years ago.”

“Toomey – a former Texas House member who served as chief of staff under two Republican governors including the state’s current chief executive – has been one of the chief masterminds of the GOP’s rise to majority party status in a state that willhave more Republicans legislators at the Capitol than ever.”

“Bill Messer, Mike Toomey ……had the top tier on the power chart all to themselves since its inception eight years ago.”

“Toomey’s impact in the Republican’s November avalanche with the way he’s been following that up as a priceless information resource who’s given a sense of security to the Republican’s legislative rookies at a time when they have just cause to be incredibly overwhelmed – it should come as no surprise that no one is ratedhigher on Capitol Inside’s Texas Lobby Power Rankings for 2011.”

“The Texas Capitol Group …..is a collection of separate private entities that operate under the same roof as an umbrella organization that frees them to work independently and together when needed for versatility benefits. Some key players in the Texas Capitol Group like Rossanna Salazar, a former press secretary to Governor Bill Clements and Rick Perry when he wasagriculture commissioner, specialize in communications and aren’t even registered to lobby.”

“The Texas Capitol Group … has members like Joe Garcia with solid ties to Democrats. Toomey is arguably closer to the governor than any of his peers in the lobby. Messer was Republican Tom Craddick’s top confidant during his three terms as House speaker. New Texas Capitol Group member JoshMeeks entered the lobby after his boss Republican Kip Averitt resigned from the state Senate last year.”

The Texas Lobby Group is a full service lobbying and government relations firm that has a reputation for hard work, honesty and results, continuously gaining stature throughout the state lobby industry.

Our team provides our clients with a comprehensive array of public policy management and advocacy services.